Two forces acting on an object

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In summary, the 1.5 kg mass is experiencing a net acceleration of 7.3 m/s^2 at an angle of 30 degrees counterclockwise from the x axis. One of the forces acting on the mass is 6.8 N in the +x direction. The other force can be found by using trigonometry to deduce its magnitude and angle, and can be expressed as a comma separated pair of components.
  • #1
dflutedevil
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Two forces, both in the x-y plane, act on a 1.5 kg mass that accelerates at 7.3 m/s^2 in a direction 30 degrees counterclockwise from the x axis. One force has magnitude 6.8 N and points in the + x direction. Find the other force. Express it as a comma separated pair of components.

I know this seems easy but I'm just not getting it. Any help?
 
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  • #2
You know mass and acceleration so you can find the resultant net force's magnitude

You know one component of the resultant force is just a vector of magnitude 6.8N at 0 degrees(on the x-axis)

So that vector + another vector you need to find = the resultant vector

You should know equations for deducing both the magnitude and angle of the second vector(they involve trig and right triangles), then you can use trig to get those components.
 
  • #3
if it involves trig then of course it involves right angles
 

1. What are the two forces that can act on an object?

The two forces that can act on an object are contact forces and non-contact forces. Contact forces are those that require physical contact between two objects, such as friction or normal force. Non-contact forces, on the other hand, do not require physical contact and can act from a distance, such as gravity or magnetic force.

2. How do forces affect the motion of an object?

Forces can cause an object to change its speed, direction, or both. If the forces acting on an object are balanced, the object will remain at rest or continue moving at a constant speed in a straight line. If the forces are unbalanced, the object will accelerate in the direction of the net force.

3. Can two forces act on an object in opposite directions?

Yes, two forces can act on an object in opposite directions. When this happens, the forces are said to be acting in opposite directions and will either cancel each other out or result in a net force in the direction of the stronger force.

4. How are the forces acting on an object calculated?

The forces acting on an object can be calculated using Newton's second law of motion, which states that the net force on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration. This can be represented by the equation F=ma, where F is the net force, m is the mass of the object, and a is the acceleration.

5. Can forces acting on an object be in equilibrium?

Yes, forces acting on an object can be in equilibrium when the net force is equal to zero. This means that the forces are balanced and the object will remain at rest or continue moving at a constant speed in a straight line. An example of this is an object sitting on a flat surface with the force of gravity pulling it down and the normal force of the surface pushing it up with equal magnitude.

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